INTRODUCTION.
The First Europeans who traversed the Great Highway—Alvar Nunez
Cabeca de Vaca—Hernando de Soto, and Francisco Vasquez de Coronado—
Spanish Expedition from Santa Fe eastwardly—Escape of the Sole Survivors.

CHAPTER I.
UNDER THE SPANIARDS.
Quaint Descriptions of Old Santa Fe—The Famous Adobe Palace—
Santa Fe the Oldest Town in the United States—First Settlement—
Onate's Conquest—Revolt of the Pueblo Indians—Under Pueblo Rule
—Cruelties of the Victors—The Santa Fe of To-day—Arrival of
a Caravan—The Railroad reaches the Town—Amusements—A Fandango.

CHAPTER II.
LA LANDE AND PURSLEY.
The Beginning of the Santa Fe Trade—La Lande and Pursley,
the First Americans to cross the Plains—Pursley's Patriotism—
Captain Ezekiel Williams—A Hungry Bear—A Midnight Alarm.

CHAPTER III.
EARLY TRADERS.
Captain Becknell's Expedition—Sufferings from Thirst—Auguste
Chouteau—Imprisonment of McKnight and Chambers—The Caches—
Stampeding Mules—First Military Escort across the Plains—
Captain Zebulon Pike—Sublette and Smith—Murder of McNess—
Indians not the Aggressors.

CHAPTER IV.
TRAINS AND PACKERS.
The Atajo or Pack-train of Mules—Mexican Nomenclature of
Paraphernalia—Manner of Packing—The "Bell-mare"—Toughness of
Mules among Precipices—The Caravan of Wagons—Largest Wagon-train
ever on the Plains—Stampedes—Duties of Packers en route—Order of
Travelling with Pack-train—Chris. Gilson, the Famous Packer.

CHAPTER V.
FIGHT WITH COMANCHES.
Narrative of Bryant's Party of Santa Fe Traders—The First Wagon
Expedition across the Plains—A Thrilling Story of Hardship and
Physical Suffering—Terrible Fight with the Comanches—Abandonment
of the Wagons—On Foot over the Trail—Burial of their Specie
on an Island in the Arkansas—Narrative of William Y. Hitt,
one of the Party—His Encounter with a Comanche—The First Escort
of United States Troops to the Annual Caravan of Santa Fe Traders,
in 1829—Major Bennett Riley's Official Report to the War Department
—Journal of Captain Cooke.

CHAPTER VI.
A ROMANTIC TRAGEDY.
The Expedition of Texans to the Old Santa Fe Trail for the Purpose
of robbing Mexican Traders—Innocent Citizens of the United States
suspected, arrested, and carried to the Capital of New Mexico—
Colonel Snively's Force—Warfield's Sacking of the Village of Mora
—Attack upon a Mexican Caravan—Kit Carson in the Fight—
A Crime of over Sixty Years Ago—A Romance of the Tragedy.

CHAPTER VII.
MEXICO DECLARES WAR.
Mexico declares War against the United States—Congress authorizes
the President to call for Fifty Thousand Volunteers—Organization of
the Army of the West—Phenomenon seen by Santa Fe Traders in the Sky
—First Death on the March of the Army across the Plains—Men in
a Starving Condition—Another Death—Burial near Pawnee Rock—
Trouble at Pawnee Fork—Major Howard's Report.

CHAPTER VIII.
THE VALLEY OF TAOS.
The Valley of Taos—First White Settler—Rebellion of the Mexicans
—A Woman discovers and informs Colonel Price of the Conspiracy—
Assassination of Governor Bent—Horrible Butcheries by the Pueblos
and Mexicans—Turley's Ranch—Murder of Harwood and Markhead—
Anecdote of Sir William Drummond Stewart—Fight at the Mills—
Battle of the Pueblo of Taos—Trial of the Insurrectionists—
Baptiste, the Juror—Execution of the Rebels.

CHAPTER IX.
FIRST OVERLAND MAIL.
Independence—Opening of Navigation on the Mississippi—Effect of
Water Transportation upon the Trade—Establishment of Trading-forts—
Market for Cattle and Mules—Wages paid Teamsters on the Trail—
An Enterprising Coloured Man—Increase of the Trade at the Close of
the Mexican War—Heavy Emigration to California—First Overland Mail
—How the Guards were armed—Passenger Coaches to Santa Fe—
Stage-coaching Days.

CHAPTER X.
CHARLES BENT.
The Tragedy in the Canyon of the Canadian—Dragoons follow the Trail
of the Savages—Kit Carson, Dick Wooton, and Tom Tobin the Scouts
of the Expedition—More than a Hundred of the Savages killed—
Murder of Mrs. White—White Wolf—Lieutenant Bell's Singular Duel
with the Noted Savage—Old Wolf—Satank—Murder of Peacock—
Satanta made Chief—Kicking Bird—His Tragic Death—Charles Bent,
the Half-breed Renegade—His Terrible Acts—His Death.

CHAPTER XI.
LA GLORIETA.
Neglect of New Mexico by the United States Government—Intended
Conquest of the Province—Conspiracy of Southern Leaders—
Surrender by General Twiggs to the Confederate Government of the
Military Posts and Munitions of War under his Command—Only One
Soldier out of Two Thousand deserts to the Enemy—Organization
of Volunteers for the Defence of Colorado and New Mexico—
Battle of La Glorieta—Rout of the Rebels.

CHAPTER XII.
THE BUFFALO.
The Ancient Range of the Buffalo—Number slaughtered in Thirteen Years
for their Robes alone—Buffalo Bones—Trains stopped by Vast Herds—
Custom of Old Hunters when caught in a Blizzard—Anecdotes of
Buffalo Hunting—Kit Carson's Dilemma—Experience of Two of Fremont's
Hunters—Wounded Buffalo Bull—O'Neil's Laughable Experience—
Organization of a Herd of Buffalo—Stampedes—Thrilling Escapes.

CHAPTER XIII.
INDIAN CUSTOMS AND LEGENDS.
Big Timbers—Winter Camp of the Cheyennes, Kiowas, and Arapahoes—
Savage Amusements—A Cheyenne Lodge—Indian Etiquette—Treatment
of Children—The Pipe of the North American Savage—Dog Feast—
Marriage Ceremony.

CHAPTER XIV.
TRAPPERS.
The Old Pueblo Fort—A Celebrated Rendezvous—Its Inhabitants—
"Fontaine qui Bouille"—The Legend of its Origin—The Trappers
of the Old Santa Fe Trail and the Rocky Mountains—Beaver Trapping—
Habits of the Beaver—Improvidence of the Old Trappers—Trading with
"Poor Lo"—The Strange Experience of a Veteran Trapper on the
Santa Fe Trail—Romantic Marriage of Baptiste Brown.

CHAPTER XV.
UNCLE JOHN SMITH.
Uncle John Smith—A Famous Trapper, Guide, and Interpreter—
His Marriage with a Cheyenne Squaw—An Autocrat among the People
of the Plains and Mountains—The Mexicans held him in Great Dread—
His Wonderful Resemblance to President Andrew Johnson—Interpreter
and Guide on General Sheridan's Winter Expedition against the
Allied Plains Tribes—His Stories around the Camp-fire.

CHAPTER XVI.
KIT CARSON.
Famous Men of the Old Santa Fe Trail—Kit Carson—Jim Bridger—
James P. Beckwourth—Uncle Dick Wooton—Jim Baker—Lucien B.
Maxwell—Old Bill Williams—Tom Tobin—James Hobbs.

CHAPTER XVII.
UNCLE DICK WOOTON.
Uncle Dick Wooton—Lucien B. Maxwell—Old Bill Williams—Tom Tobin—
James Hobbs—William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill).

CHAPTER XVIII.
MAXWELL'S RANCH.
Maxwell's Ranch on the Old Santa Fe Trail—A Picturesque Region—
Maxwell a Trapper and Hunter with the American Fur Company—
Lifelong Comrade of Kit Carson—Sources of Maxwell's Wealth—
Fond of Horse-racing—A Disastrous Fourth-of-July Celebration
—Anecdote of Kit Carson—Discovery of Gold on the Ranch—
The Big Ditch—Issuing Beef to the Ute Indians—Camping out with
Maxwell and Carson—A Story of the Old Santa Fe Trail.

CHAPTER XIX.
BENT'S FORTS.
The Bents' Several Forts—Famous Trading-posts—Rendezvous of the
Rocky Mountain Trappers—Castle William and Incidents connected
with the Noted Place—Bartering with the Indians—Annua

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